Driveline sounds like a helicopter.

92AndAHalf · 07-08-2008, 10:47 AM

Over the last couple of weeks I've been hearing this noise that I can only describe as "helicopter blades" coming from the front underside of my car. At first I thought it may have been a bad u-joint, as the noise is dependent on the car's wheel speed. I hear the noise noticeably through first, second and a bit of third, but once the car is traveling at a fair speed (I'd say over 50km/hr) the noise seems to go away. The noise is quite loud from the outside as well.

The noise comes whether I'm on the throttle hard or not, and goes away when I put the clutch in. I know my carrier bearings are pretty, trashed but this definitely sounds like it's coming from the tranny area. The transmission shifts smooth, and doesn't grind at all. I've also noticed a bit of shuddering when pulling away in first as well, but that has been there for awhile.

I took it to a friend's shop and he put it up on the hoist, and we took some transmission fluid out of it and the fluid was a very dark gray.

I'm fearing that I'm on borrowed time with the transmission, and I have quite a long commute to work, so I've decided to park the car for now.

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem? I did some searching in this forum, but I'm still unsure. Any insight or experience with these types of symptoms would be much appreciated. The car has the stock clutch and flywheel still, and has just some basic mods done (exhaust, maf-t, etc).

Thanks!

talon187 · 07-08-2008, 11:05 AM

sounds like it could be your transfer case. check it for fluid and see of the drive shaft has alot of play in it thats pretty much what happened to me when the dealer did the recall and it leaked and they refused to fix it to make along story short i got a new t case for free but took it in the can in the end they put a 22 spine in with a 23 spine input shaft not good

92AndAHalf · 07-08-2008, 11:15 AM

I had the transfer case recall done about 2 years ago. If the transfer case goes bad again, do they still have to honor the recall once again?

talon187 · 07-08-2008, 12:25 PM

im pretty sure your best bet would to be to call mitsu or chysler dpedning on what your car is

92AndAHalf · 07-08-2008, 01:15 PM

I'm going to give the dealer a call, and see what's what. Thanks for the input! I hope it's simply the transfer case.